Thaddeus Stevens College Announces 106th Commencement

Lancaster, PA—A Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology alumna will deliver the commencement address as her alma mater confers degrees on 416 graduates of the Class of 2017. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 13, 2017, at 1 p.m. in the Multipurpose Activity Center on campus.

Elizabeth Valentin holds two degrees from Thaddeus Stevens, in machine tool and computer-aided manufacturing (2004) and mechanical engineering (2006). She is now quality control supervisor at DentalEZ Integrated Solutions, which designs and manufactures a complete line of high- and low-speed dental handpieces. Valentin is an advocate for STEM careers—in the science, technology, engineering and math fields—particularly for young women. Last fall, she delivered a TED Talk titled “Inspire, Empower, Ignite Girls in STEM.”

The College will also confer honorary doctoral degrees on Douglas S. Brossman, president and CEO of Burnham Holdings, Inc., former state Sen. Michael W. Brubaker, CEO of Blackford Ventures and founder of the Ryan Brubaker Foundation (Ryan was a member of the Class of 2012), and John Yurchak, Jr., ’60, founder and CEO of Yurchak Printing, Inc. David W. McIlwaine, president, CEO and founder of HVAC Distributors, Inc., will receive a distinguished service award.

Members of the press are welcome to cover commencement. To ensure full access, please provide the name of your organization, reporter and/or photographer to Adam Aurand prior to the event. Full contact information is below.

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is consistently ranked as Pennsylvania’s top technical college and awards associate degrees in 22 high-demand, skilled occupations. The College has is a premier residential, two-year, accredited technical college of more than 1,000 students. It remains true to the mission of its founding to educate economically and socially disadvantaged as well as other qualified students for skilled employment in a diverse, ever-changing workforce and for full effective participation as citizens. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is recognized by the Aspen Institute, an independent research panel, as one of the top 120 two-year colleges in the country for five consecutive years. A full listing of programs is available at www.StevensCollege.edu.

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PA's #1 Technical College

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is a premier, residential, two-year, accredited technical college that prepares students for skilled employment in a diverse, ever-changing workforce. Founded in 1905 with 15 students, Thaddeus Stevens College has grown to more than 1,000 students and 22 high-skill, high-wage technical programs.

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is Pennsylvania's only state-owned two-year college of technology. Thaddeus Stevens College only admits students who have been Pennsylvania residents for more than one year. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities.